If you’re a solo provider managing your own schedule, you know the drill. Mornings are spent on confirmation calls and trying to fill holes made by last-minute cancellations. Every free moment between clients is about picking up voice mail or answering emails for appointment requests. After your last client, the work goes on, returning more calls, scheduling more appointments. But what if there was a better way?

Ten years ago, Jerry Nettuno, founder and CEO of Schedulicity, (www.schedulicity.com) was a frustrated client. His massage therapist literally worked next door, but getting an appointment was a nightmare. “I was busy all day, and when I finally thought about making an appointment in the evening after work, I had to leave a message,” Jerry remembers. “That turned into three or four days of phone tag, which ended in the ‘phone dance’ of, ‘What about this time? What about that time?’”

Jerry realized if this dance was causing HIM to waste a lot of time, imagine what it was like for the service provider? “The more we researched, the more I realized my problems paled in comparison to what a hairstylist or nail tech or massage therapist or lash artist was doing for thousands of people! I realized most service providers’ lives were a nightmare when it came to scheduling.”

The result of Jerry’s journey is the simple-to-use, solo-artist-friendly Schedulicity, an online scheduling platform.

Madison-based massage therapist Gregory Ferger of Body Archaeology implemented Schedulicity into his one-person practice about five years ago and has never looked back. “I’m booked at least eight weeks out,” he explains. “I used to use a paper calendar, I did all my own appointments and reminders. When I wasn’t with clients I was working on scheduling. I chose Schedulicity because it’s cost-effective—you only pay for what you use. And it’s really simple for my clients and myself to navigate.”

In addition to flexible online calendars and service lists, Schedulicity offers automated email marketing, payment processing (more on that in a second), and customizable settings like no-show blacklists and text appointment reminders. There’s also an app for providers to check their calendars on the go and one for clients to instantly book services. This all adds up to finding time for whatever has been put aside.

“Once I signed on,” says Gregory, “I simply sent the company my contact list, they implemented it into the software and I was up and running. Now I have time in the morning, more time to spend with clients at work, and more free time after work. I can take a pottery class if I want!”

Not only is Schedulicity good for Gregory’s sanity, it’s good for his business. “I think a lot of people became deterred because they had to wait for a return call to get an appointment with me,” he notes. “They probably just gave up. Now my clients can watch my books in real time and grab appointments if something opens up last minute.”

Another bottom line booster for Gregory has been the addition of the new Schedulicity Pay feature. “It’s as simple to use as the rest of Schedulicity,” he says. “And the processing rate is so much lower than the system I had been using. That’s why I switched—I’m saving so much money on credit card transactions. That and the fact that Schedulicity’s customer service is so good and so genuine. When you call, you get someone on the phone right away and you can tell they really take pride in their company.”

“More than 70 percent of our customers’ appointments are scheduled after business hours,” Jerry reveals.  “So if you’re providing services and you don’t have this technology available, think about how hard you’re making it for your clients.”

And think about how hard things are for yourself without an online booking solution. “People have told me Schedulicity changed their lives,” Jerry admits. “One guy told me it saved his marriage. He hadn’t been on a date with his wife in 15 years. Now he has time to have a life and we’re really proud!”

Learn more about Schedulicity

Read More about Schedulicity

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